Word Origin & History

rouse c.1460, probably from Anglo-Fr., or O.Fr., originally used of hawks shaking the feathers of the body, but like many hawking terms of obscure origin. Meaning "to stir up, provoke to activity" is from 1586; that of "awaken" is first recorded 1590.

Example Sentences for rouse

Thoughts and deeds of the present, our rouse and early start.

After all, the vibrations need to be significant enough to rouse a mobile's owner, and creating them produces sound.

His campaign had failed to rouse the country, and he seemed embittered and out of touch.

The grouper would need to do something to rouse the eel's attention.

Furthermore the city council may be trying to rouse a sleeping giant.

She could not rouse herself to go to work in the marketing business she founded and ran, or even get through the newspaper.

The clamor in the house, and his dread over where his gun may have ended up, finally rouse him.

Later, the physical therapist could barely rouse her to do the critical rehab on her brand-new hip.

Teenagers are notoriously difficult to rouse in the mornings.

When he does, he appears to rouse himself as if returning from a different planet.